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Suggest Treatment For Irregular Heartbeats And Heart Arrhythmia

Posted on Wed, 9 Nov 2016

Question: I have an irregular heartbeat - occasional fluttering - using 1200 gabapentin daily for back and hip pain which I assume is osteoarthritis. I'm 57, also take 100 levothyroxine daily (recent blood tests all ok for that). Normal blood pressure, not overweight, I exercise moderately daily, cholesterol a little high but my doc not concerned. Does this fluttering matter? When I reduced gaba flutters reduced bit pain increases. Can I continue with gaba 1200 a day despite this, as it's so good for my back and hip pain?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.

First of all you should know that the irregular heart beat may be related to arrhythmias which in rare cases may lead to sever cardiac complications.

This is why I strongly recommend that you should do a complete cardiac evaluation to exclude any problem.

If you were my patient I would recommend to do the following examinations to find out what is causing your symptoms:
- Blood work including thyroid hormones
- Ecg
- Cardiac echo
- Holter monitoring

Secondly if everything is ok than your symptoms are related to anxiety and gabapeptin use.

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (22 hours later)

Thanks for your reply. What I really need to know is this. Let's suppose that the blood tests and heart checks (ecg, etc) I undertake are all normal. And that we can assume that the occasional fluttering is a side effect of gabapentin use. Could my heart become damaged as a result of fluttering due to gabapentin use?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Incase that all your cardiac exams will be normal than you shouldn't worry your symptoms are related to anxiety and gabapeptin use and will not cause any problem to your heart.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (15 hours later)

Thanks - you have been very helpful. Regards, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are mostly welcome to contact me again!

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
You are mostly welcome to contact me again!
dr. Shehu

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar